IISER Bhopal researcher proposes great chemical link

IISER Bhopal researcher proposes great chemical link
Published at : 16 Oct 2021, 6:11 PM IST
Updated at : 16 Oct 2021, 6:13 PM IST

IISER Bhopal researcher has recently published a review of the biomolecular relationships among COVID-19, aging and diabetes.

IISER Bhopal researcher Dr. Amjad Husain along with researchers from University of Arizona of USA have presented that existing drugs used to treat diabetes, obesity and ageing can potentially be used to treat COVID-19.

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IISER Bhopal

In addition, there are similar naturally existing biomolecules that can be also explored in combination for the COVID treatment. Dr. Amjad Husain is the Chief Executive Officer at Innovation and Incubation Centre for Entrepreneurship (IICE) at IISER Bhopal.

The review which was co-authored by Dr. Udeep Chawla, Dr. Manoj Kumar Kashyap and Dr. Amjad Husain of IISER Bhopal was recently published in the journal ‘Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry’ and offers insight into future directions in COVID-19 therapeutics.

Dr. Amjad Husain of IISER Bhopal said with the nearly two year long COVID-19 pandemic continuing to ravage the world, we are beginning to slowly understand the virus and its functioning.

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It is now known that the effects of the viral infection is severe on aging population and people with existing diabetic conditions. There are studies being conducted worldwide on the effects of aging and diabetes on the short- and long-term outcomes of the COVID-19 infection, said Dr. Amjad of IISER Bhopal.

IISER Bhopal

The published review shows that at the molecular level, there are intersecting pathways that are common to diabetes, aging, and COVID-19. All three conditions are associated with oxidative stress and lowering of the immune response and complications arising from them lead to the onset of numerous other diseases such as cardiovascular disorders, eye diseases, neuropathy (nerve diseases), and nephropathy (kidney problems), says researcher from IISER Bhopal.

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The researchers believe that an ideal therapeutic candidate for COVID-19 should be able to target the pathways that are common to diabetes, ageing and the SARS-CoV-2 infection, said Dr. Husain of IISER Bhopal.

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There are classes of compounds such as polyphenols found in plant-based food – curcumin (found in turmeric), and resveratrol (found in grapes), have been shown to not only slow down the ageing process, but also possess anti-viral properties, said Dr. Husain of IISER Bhopal.

The researchers believe that an ideal therapeutic candidate for COVID-19 should be able to target the pathways that are common to diabetes, ageing and the SARS-CoV-2 infection, say sources from IISER Bhopal.

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IISER Bhopal

There are classes of compounds such as polyphenols found in plant-based food – curcumin (found in turmeric), and resveratrol (found in grapes), have been shown to not only slow down the ageing process, but also possess anti-viral properties, said Dr. Husain of IISER Bhopal.

The researchers also present evidence of some existing potential anti-aging drugs such as Rapamycin that can be explored for the COVID-19 treatment because of the common biochemical pathways associated with these diseases, say sources from IISER Bhopal.

Another such example is a drug Metformin , which is usually used to control blood sugar. The scientists have also performed computational studies to show that lipids present in cell membranes play an important role in coronavirus infectivity.

Natural compounds such as polyphenols may affect the binding of the virus to host receptors and the molecular interactions required for virus replication and release, thereby stopping the infection in its early stages.

There is an urgent need to shortlist effective therapeutics from the existing pool of potential compounds,” as the time taken to discover a new drug and its approval takes longer, said Dr. Husain from IISER Bhopal.

IISER Bhopal

The scientists believe that natural compounds such as curcumin and resveratrol, among others, and existing drugs such as metformin and Rapamyci have potential to get tested extensively for the treatment of COVID-19 and post-coronavirus syndrome.

About IISER Bhopal

Established by the Ministry of Education (then Ministry of Human Resource & Development), Government of India, in 2008, IISER Bhopal is the youngest of the first five IISERs. In a decade, the Institute has received several distinctions, duly carving out its own position in the national and international arena.

With a vision to provide high quality education to the students and contribute to the society through its research, the institution is the first IISER to have been declared by the Ministry of Education for project competition.

IISER Bhopal

The organization is continuously consolidating its position in the National land International rankings and has secured 40th place in The National Institutional Ranking Framework, Ministry of Education, Government of India. Along with this, IISER Bhopal has gained rank 201 in the overall category of the QS Asia Ranking. The Institute has also been ranked 26 (National Rank, out of 63 in the 1000 Institutes) in the Times Higher Education 2021 Rankings.

S.
S. Vishnu Sharma

S Vishnu Sharmaa now works with collegechalo.com in the news team. His work involves writing articles related to the education sector in India with a keen focus on higher education issues. Journalism has always been a passion for him. He has more than 10 years of enriching experience with various media organizations like Eenadu, Webdunia, News Today, Infodea. He also has a strong interest in writing about defence and railway related issues.

IIT Guwahati signs great MoU with Danfoss Industries

IIT Guwahati signs great MoU with Danfoss Industries
Published at : 1 Mar 2025, 6:50 PM IST
Updated at : 1 Mar 2025, 6:51 PM IST

IIT Guwahati signed an MoU with Danfoss Industries Private Limited on 27 February 2025.

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed during InvenTiv 2025, the Global Innovation Showcase hosted at IIT Madras.

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IIT Guwahati

Key areas for collaboration

The collaboration will drive research and development in several technology areas, including:

Ø Water Desalination Technologies

Ø Energy-efficient Industrial Heating and Cooling Solutions

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Ø Advanced Power Electronics and Drives

Ø High-pressure Pump Systems

Ø Waste Heat Utilisation and Campus Decarbonisation Solutions

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Ø Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) Systems

Ø Multiphase Flow Studies

Ø AI-driven Process Optimisation and Advanced Thermal Simulations

CoE at IIT Guwahati

A Center of Excellence (CoE) – Danfoss Solutions will be established at IIT Guwahati to coordinate and streamline all collaborative projects under a unified research umbrella, fostering innovation and efficient project management.

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Opportunities

Additionally, the collaboration will also open new opportunities for internships, collaborative research projects, and training programs for students across B.Tech, M.Tech, MS, and PhD programs at IIT Guwahati.

Students will have the opportunity to work at Danfoss’s global facilities, gaining hands-on industrial exposure, with high-performing students eligible for Pre-Placement Offers (PPOs), say sources from IIT Guwahati.

Joint education program

Further, a joint educational program will be established between IIT Guwahati and the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), in collaboration with Danfoss.

This program will provide students with international exposure, industry-relevant curricula, and opportunities for student and faculty exchanges, fostering cross-cultural learning and global research collaboration.

Director

Prof. Devendra Jalihal, Director, IIT Guwahati, said this partnership with Danfoss is a step towards IIT Guwahati’s vision of fostering innovation through collaborative research and industry engagement.

By combining cutting-edge research at IIT Guwahati with Danfoss’s technological expertise, we aim to develop solutions addressing critical sustainability challenges while preparing future-ready talent, he said.

IIT Guwahati

This partnership aligns with Danfoss’s commitment to driving sustainable innovation and nurturing a talent pool equipped to address global challenges in energy efficiency, water management, and climate technologies, he said.

Industry-Academia collaboration

The MoU signing at InvenTiv 2025 was held in the presence of Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, Minister of State for Education and Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), Government of India.

Dr. Majumdar emphasized the importance of fostering industry-academia collaborations to drive innovation, particularly in the context of sustainable development and regional growth in the North Eastern Region.

He commended the efforts of IIT Guwahati and Danfoss for spearheading research and educational partnerships that will contribute to both national technological advancement and regional development.

Duration

The MoU will remain in effect for five years, with the possibility of renewal and expansion to include emerging research areas such as digital transformation, advanced manufacturing, and smart infrastructure solutions.

About Danfoss

Danfoss Industries Private Limited, part of the globally renowned Danfoss Group, is a leader in climate and energy solutions.

It is recognised for its expertise in energy efficiency, advanced industrial systems, and sustainable technologies.

With a strong commitment to decarbonisation, digitalisation, and sustainability, Danfoss is at the forefront of developing technologies for a greener future.

IIT Guwahati

At present, the Institute has eleven departments, nine interdisciplinary academic centers and five schools.

They are covering all the major engineering, science, healthcare, management, and humanities disciplines, offering BTech, BDes, BSc(Hons), MA, MDes, MTech, MSc, MS(R), MBA and PhD programs.

The institute offers a residential campus to 455 faculty members and more than 8,600 students at present.

S.
S. Vishnu Sharma

S Vishnu Sharmaa now works with collegechalo.com in the news team. His work involves writing articles related to the education sector in India with a keen focus on higher education issues. Journalism has always been a passion for him. He has more than 10 years of enriching experience with various media organizations like Eenadu, Webdunia, News Today, Infodea. He also has a strong interest in writing about defence and railway related issues.



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